For Orthodox clergy and laity the Parish Development Forum is a conference which provides an opportunity for discussion of timely topics and discovery of practices used by healthy, vibrant Orthodox parishes.

The Forum, now in its tenth year, is co-sponsored by the Orthodox Church in America’s Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, the Diocese of the Midwest and the Bulgarian Diocese.

After three years online the 2023 Forum will once again be held  as an in-person event.

Dates/Times

2:00 PM Thursday July 13 thru noon Saturday July 15, 2023.

Location

Host parish will be Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Parma OH.

Lodging

Extended Stay America, Independence OH. Rates for a King room will be $99/night will be valid up to three weeks before the event.

Registration

Registration will be online and will open May 1, 2023. Early bird registration fee will be $75 per attendee thru June 22. After June 22 the rate will be $125 per attendee. The registration fee covers all conference materials, attendance at all sessions, pre-conference workshops, two evening meals, three lunches and an attendee reception.

Looking Backward to Also Look Forward

Theme for the 2023 Forum is still being finalized. The Forum's primary interest will be in helping parishes to think and act upon a bright parish future.

Workshops keynotes, and breakout sessions will consider the important positive and negative changes in parish life over the last ten years and the societal, cultural, demographic and even technological trends that will shape the growth, health and impact of Orthodoxy and Orthodox parishes in America over the next five to ten years. Attendees will collaborate to identify the key behaviors, skills and characteristics of healthy Orthodox parishes in that time frame.

Grants

Attending parishes will be encouraged to put Forum learning and key principles into action. Grants/attendee rebates will be offered to those attending parishes that can demonstrate clear effort.